Monday, May 6, 2013

the Philadelphia Chromosome by Jessica Wapner

Renewed Appreciation

Reading the
Philadelphia Chromosome transformed me into a mini scientist majoring in
CML, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. I was diagnosed with CML in November of 2003,
which required keeping up-to-date on news relating to CML. When I heard about the Philadelphia Chromosome by Jessica
Wapner, I was anxious to add it to my shelf of resources.

Reading the book with pencil in hand to highlight new facts
as well as valuable previous knowledge, I found myself marking information on
every page.

When I was diagnosed my oncologist informed me that if there
was ever a good time to get CML, it was now. At that precise moment, I had no
idea what he was talking about. He may have elaborated, but in that moment of
shock, I didn’t hear much. Wapner’s book has renewed my appreciation of that
conversation every time I swallow my oral chemotherapy pill, Gleevec.

I have an entire file cabinet filled with lab results since
2003. My oncologist reviews the findings with me twice a year, but after
reading the Philadelphia Chromosome,
my understanding of the labs has improved. I have registered for a couple of
CML conferences and am confident I will easily grasp new information presented after
reading this book.

Years ago I started writing a book about living with CML. I
found it too depressing to continue, however, not abandoning the therapeutic effect;
I turned it into a blog, which I update once a month. marycrocco.wordpress.comBeing helpful to a few readers who have
stopped by makes it worthwhile.

Wapner shared a story of a patient who cherished her Gleevec
and defended it with her life. I do the same thing, always insisting to sign
for it and checking the delivery time is set for the morning. I don’t want my
miracle pill losing its potency in the heat of a UPS truck.

Thank you, Jessica Wapner, for taking the time to write this
incredible book, the Philadelphia
Chromosome. I appreciate the effort required in your research to share with
others who suffer with CML, or readers who have an interest in cancer treatments.

Bringing to life the names of medical doctors and
institutions involved in the creation of Gleevec was important. I owe my life
to Dr. Druker, and others, who dedicated a large portion of their lives creating
a targeted medicine to fight chromosome abnormality in cancer cells.